The Afghan government only controls about 60 percent of the country — down roughly 10 percent from 2016 — due to a resurgence by the radical Islamists in the Taliban, the Islamic State group and other jihadist organizations like Al Qaeda.

According to Politico, Mattis received heated questions from Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain, who demanded to know why the Trump administration has yet to devise a new strategy for our nation’s longest war.

“We want a strategy, and I don’t think that’s a hell of a lot to ask,” stated McCain. “We’re now six months into this administration. We still haven’t got a strategy for Afghanistan. It makes it hard for us to support you when we don’t have a strategy. We know what the strategy was for the last eight years: Don’t lose.”

“We are not winning in Afghanistan right now,” replied Mattis, but “we will correct this as soon as possible.”

“I believe by mid-July, we’ll be able to brief you in detail,” added Mattis. “We’re putting it together now and … there are actions being taken to make certain that we don’t pay a price for the delay. But we recognize the need for urgency, and your criticism is fair.”

One thing you can always respect about Mattis is his brutal honesty. He will not sugarcoat anything.

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